by CW Crowe
Victor looked at the cop's leather belt. It had a radio, handcuffs and a pouch that probably held pepper spray. He wasn't armed. He moved closer to the cop, invading his space. "Radio not working?"
The cop involuntarily moved back an inch. "Yeah, we don't know why."
Victor studied him closely. His name tag was pinned on at an angle. He was wearing a wedding ring. "Well, Officer Halling, I'm here to get my daughter. I don't know what they told you, but the shit has hit the fan. The lights are not coming back for a long time, if ever. Food's going to get real scarce. It's winter and nobody's going to be planting crops for months. Lots of stuff doesn't work, but you're lucky your car does. Take my advice, son - get in that car and go to your wife and family. Get as much food as you can find. If you live the country, hunker down for at least a week. If you live in the city, get to the country."
Victor turned and took a step to bypass the cop, who moved to block his path. "Look, Dude, I told you. It's closed." His right hand went towards the pepper spray on his belt. He moved his fingers to unsnap its leather holder, his muscles tensed, ready for a fight.
"Son, you're forgetting to breathe."
The cop was puzzled. "What?"
"You're holding your breath. Exhale for me."
When he did, Victor drove his fist upwards, hitting the cop just below the rib cage like he was trying to drive his stomach up through his mouth. Instantly the cop fell to the ground, writhing in agony. He was panicked, kicking his legs involuntarily.
Victor leaned over him. "You just had the breath knocked out of you. Your diaphragm is having a spasm so that it won't open to let you breathe. It's scary, isn't it? Like you're downing in air. Don't worry though, it'll start working again soon and you'll be all right. When you are able, get in that car and go help your family. They will need you. I promise."
Victor walked around the cop and headed to find Samantha.
***
The door to the fieldhouse was unlocked. It was a large open area that contained several tennis courts with their nets removed. On each wall were many windows, so even in the grey gloom of the afternoon, there was plenty of light inside. Groups of kids were sitting around on blankets. A few were sleeping. In the corner, a boy and girl were kissing passionately; the boy's hand up the girl's shirt.
Samantha spotted Victor when he was half way across the floor. She was sitting knees up to her chest. A boy was talking to her.
She told the boy goodbye and rose, taking her black purse with her. She met Victor and practically leapt into his arms. She was so glad to see him.
She pulled away and said, "What took you so long?" He laughed and she did too.
They walked towards the exit, "Any trouble on the drive?"
"I had a couple of minor adventures, but not much. Things are quiet right now, but the sooner we get back the better."
They were about to exit when a tall, heavyset woman approached them. "Excuse me. We're on lockdown. No one can leave."
Sam felt Victor's muscles tighten. She stopped and faced the woman. "Ah . . . Pops, this is Doctor Henry. She's the Department Chair of Animal Studies. Remember, I told you that I requested to transfer my major to her department?"
Victor had no real idea what she was talking about, but he answered, "Yes. Glad to meet you Doctor Henry." He stuck out his hand and she shook it firmly.
Doctor Henry seemed to be trying to remember any recent request to transfer to Animal Studies. "What did you say you name was?"
Sam gave her a smile that would light up any room, "It's Samantha. Samantha Twin Feathers."
Doctor Henry looked surprised and then studied her even more carefully. "Oh, I see," she said.
Samantha nodded, "Yep, fresh off the Rez. That's why my Dad is here - there's a tribal ceremony that is happening tonight and I kind of need to be there. I'm not real religious, but you know . . ."
Now Doctor Henry appeared to be very uncomfortable. Standing in the way of a Native American could be racist. "Well, I suppose if your father drove all this way and it's an important ceremony. I can see you're in good hands, Ms. Twin Feathers, so go ahead."
As they left, Victor shook his head in wonder. Samantha could certainly think on her feet. "Miss Twin Feathers?" Last time I checked, your last name was Davis."
Samantha took his hand as they walked. "Guilty white woman do what Indian girl say. Twin Feathers know much."
Victor squeezed her hand and said in wonder. "You sure do."
***
They walked towards the exit when Samantha said, "Vic, I need to run in the dorm and get my bug-out bag. That's why I couldn't hear you. I knew you were calling, but I didn't have the radio with me. The power went out last night when I was walking back from Victoria's Secret. I had to close and then clean up. By the time I got here, they had the dorms evacuated and put everyone in the fieldhouse. There are only a couple hundred students left on campus."
The door to the dorm had a high tech looking card entry lock. Samantha took out her keycard and waved it in front of the door, but it didn't do anything. Victor said, "The card reader won't work without power, I guess. There's got to be another way to get in. Might have to break a window."
Samantha grabbed the door handle and pulled. The door opened with a click. "Maybe this will be easier," she said with a smile.
***
The entrance way was dark. Stairs led up into the gloom. "Damn, Pops, it’s dark in here." She started to climb to her third floor room and Victor followed. The darkness seemed to get thicker with each step.
As they entered the third floor hallway, they found they could once again see. A window at each end of the hallway let in light that revealed a long line of doors on each side. The only sound was of the stairwell access door closing behind them. "I'm going to change out of my work clothes while I'm here," she said. She went inside and closed the door. Her work clothes were a stylish black dress with flats.
Victor waited in the hallway, but it didn't take long. Sam threw open the door, carrying her backpack bug-out bag and dressed in jeans, a flannel shirt and sneakers. She pulled on her winter coat and handed Victor a box. "It's Christmas presents for you and Mary. They're not much, but I did get Zoe and Zack some things I think they'll like."
Victor got that look on his face that Sam knew so well - that uncomfortable look, slightly embarrassed and searching for words. "Come on, Pops, let’s go," she said. She took his hand and started to walk.
***
Before they got to the stairway, a female voice called out from behind them, "Hey, who's there? What time is it, anyway?"
A girl appeared, half in a dorm room and half in the hallway. She rubbed her eyes. The light from the hallway window behind her outlined her body. She appeared to be wearing only a t-shirt - and not a very long one.
Immediately, Sam turned and walked towards her. Victor followed.
"It's a bit before two."
"Damn!" the girl said. She saw Victor and tugged the hem of the t-shirt down. It didn't move much. "Who's he?"
Sam answered, "He's fine. He's with me. You should be over at the fieldhouse. The whole place is on lockdown and that's where they took everyone. How come you didn't go?"
The girl looked like she was trying to remember an event from long ago. "Yeah. The power went out just as a couple of guys came by. Most everyone is gone; the whole place was empty, so we decided to party. Then people came down the hallway yelling that everyone should leave, but we stayed real quiet until they left. I couldn't see what all the fuss was about. It's just a power outage, so no big deal, right?"
Samantha didn't say anything. "One of them had a bottle and after a while we started to . . .” She looked at Victor. "Well, you know. We partied. I guess I passed out. I woke up, but it was still dark out so I went back to sleep."
She looked around again in wonder, "Aren't the lights back on yet?"
"No, they're still out. Look, you need to get dressed and get with the others at the fieldhouse." Sam put some st
eel in her words.
"Hey, chill, okay? I'll go. Just got to get myself together first."
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, just a little sore. I guess it was a good party." Again, she looked Vic up and down. "Hey, they got any food over there? I'm starved."
Samantha looked over her shoulder into the room. It was empty but Sam saw several open condom packs on the nightstand. "Yeah, they've got food. We've got to be going now. Are you going to be all right?"
"Sure, I will be as soon as they get the damn lights back on. It's cold in here."
"Okay then, see 'ya." They turned and left the building.
***
Sam didn't say another word until they were at the campus entrance. The picture of that girl stuck in her mind. She had no idea that the world had changed and that she'd never again be able to party in her dorm, safe in the knowledge that her decisions wouldn't cause her undue pain or put her in any real danger.
As they approached a wide open gate, she momentarily wondered how leaving it open like this could be part of any lockdown plan.
As she and Victor passed to the other side, she stopped and looked back. "I guess that's it for my college career, Vic. It was fun while it lasted."
They got in the truck and started for home.
Ryan’s Surprise
That morning, a police car had driven slowly through the town and into the surrounding areas. It had its emergency lights on, but they were just steady, not flashing. There was a loud announcement from a cop who was leaning out the window, holding a bullhorn, "Meeting at 1p.m. Central Square. Mayor will provide information. Meeting at 1p.m. . . ." Hoppie and Sarabeth could hear it clearly from their deck.
Hoppie was relieved that someone was going to tell them what was going on. "Finally! No power and not a thing to eat. We're lucky we have a fireplace and some wood, though there's not too much of that. Let's hope this Mayor can tell us when the power will come back - and we need groceries." She went to get dressed. "Let's get ready, SeeBee."
***
"Hop, we're going to a meeting, not a man hunt." Sarabeth was frowning.
"Well, SeeBee, you never know when some game might pop up. Besides this is what I brought - we're on vacation, remember? Two single girls on the prowl, right? It's supposed to be skiing and boys and eating out and boys and shopping and boys. That's what I packed for. You get it, right?"
"Yeah, I get it." She didn't sound convinced.
Hoppie finished putting on her lipstick while studying herself in the mirror. "It's okay for you to dress like a cute snow bunny with your tight jeans and big sweater and adorable hat. All you've got to do is flip your hair and stick out your chest and the boys will come running. Plus, you've got Kevin to curl up with whenever you feel the urge."
She stepped back and studied her reflection. She'd chosen a tight sweater that was just a bit too short so that it showed her belly button, a blue miniskirt and leggings that had a horizontal pattern of stripes on them. Her jacket vest would top off her outfit and keep her warm. She made a couple of small adjustments. They both wore calf high boots with fur on the top.
"I envy you, you know? Every guy I hook up with turns out to be a mama's boy, or gay or a creep. Before last night, the only orgasms I've had in the last six months were ones I gave myself."
Sarabeth shook her head in wonder. "Good Lord, Hop. Do you ever stop to think that maybe you should keep some of your thoughts to yourself?"
Hoppie laughed. "I do, SeeBee. Except with you."
***
Hoppie's rental car had a light coating of snow on it, though the roads were clear. Sarabeth wiped her mittened hand over the windshield. "Maybe we ought to walk; it's only a half mile. The radio said a lot of cars don't work."
Hoppie paid her no mind. Instead of just getting in the car and trying it, Sarabeth would worry about what they would do on the chance it didn't work. Hoppie slid behind the wheel and pushed the start button. The Ford Fusion started right up.
"Hoppie says hop in."
***
All morning long, they'd seen people leaving the resort and the small town of Ketchum. The ski slopes weren't operating, and since most of the guests at the resort were from California, they decided to drive home - especially after the last radio report that mentioned the power might be out for a week or even two. Having Christmas in your own warm home suddenly seemed at lot better than spending it in a cold, dark resort.
They parked in the half full town parking lot. Most of the digital parking meters were blank though a few had displays that seemed to work. Hoppie parked in one that said it had fifteen hours left. Instead of counting down, it was counting up. Every few seconds, it flashed, "Need more time? Credit Cards Accepted Here!"
They had no problem finding the square where the meeting was going to be held. First, they could follow their eyes as other people were heading to the meeting. Next, they could follow their noses - someone was having a barbecue. And third, they could follow their ears as music was playing.
Hoppie had been concerned that the meeting would be grim, but for now at least, it looked like a party. People were in line at a large grill to get hot dogs. A group of musicians were playing bluegrass music on their acoustic instruments. The cool air, just above freezing, was full of the smell of warm food and hot apple cider. A few people were dancing and kids were playing.
Sarabeth pulled her along. "Let's get in line for a couple of those dogs. That energy bar you gave me is long gone."
The line moved quickly. "Yeah, SeeBee. We've got to take some groceries back with us - if the stores are open."
That led to some disconcerting thoughts. With the power out, the stores might not be open. But how would they buy food to take back to the vacation home? It didn't seem possible that, with almost two thousand dollars in her purse - her allowance from Huang - that they might end up hungry.
She thrust those thoughts aside as Sarabeth got them each two dogs and foam cups of potato salad. They gathered up plastic forks and napkins and went over and sat on the curb. "Damn. I forgot mustard. I can't eat hot dogs without it." Sarabeth rose, "You need anything, Hop?"
Hoppie took a bite. The dog was hot and delicious. She hadn't realized it, but she was very hungry. "Nope. I'm fine. Just fine."
***
Hoppie knew no one at the meeting, so she was surprised when a short man with a round, smiling face stopped and asked if they were enjoying the hot dogs. He was at least sixty, with large glasses and a close white beard that matched the hair sticking out from his baseball cap. She thought he looked a little like Santa Claus.
The man saw the questioning expression on her face, "I'm Don Preston. I’m the Mayor of Ketchum."
He seemed friendly enough. "We're glad to meet you, Mr. Mayor," said Hoppie. "I'm Hoppie Ingram and this is my friend Sarabeth Hepburn."
Hoppie could see he was filing away their names like any good politician. There had been a "practical exercise" in one of her business classes where they learned to do that. Basically, you associated something about the person with their name and you could remember them. He was probably thinking "Hoppie - likes to hop in bed. Sarabeth - sweet, innocent, big boobed Sarabeth."
Sarabeth smiled and broke in, "And the dogs are great. We were so hungry. We're here on vacation, Mr. Mayor - at least we were - but our place doesn't have any food. Are the stores open?"
He grinned and looked at his watch. "I'll talk about that during my little speech, Ms. Ingram. I promise I won't talk for long. You call me Don, though. Everybody does."
With that, he moved on to another group and more handshakes. He was working the crowd.
***
At exactly 2 p.m., the crowd gathered around a picnic table. Mayor Don Preston was standing on it. Everyone got quiet.
He smiled and waved to someone and then started talking. "I want to thank you all for coming out. I know a lot of our citizens are working up at Sun Valley right now and can't be here, but I trust those of you that are w
ill pass on the news to them." He looked in the direction of Hoppie and Sarabeth, "And if you are visiting us here, rest assured you are welcomed."
He paused. The resulting silence seemed slightly ominous. A kid started to say something and an adult voice instantly cut him off with "Shh!"
The Mayor continued. "All right then. I know the number one question you all have is 'when will the power come back on?' I had a visit from a state trooper this morning with some news. That's why I called this meeting.
"The Governor has troopers and national guard people driving to every little town to tell us what is happening. We don't have any type of real time communications outside the valley. I'll tell you more on that in a few minutes.
"For now, the Governor has called out the National Guard and has put the state on alert, but lots of people were off for the holidays. With poor communications, it'll take a day or two before they are functioning effectively."
He stopped and took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead. He was sweating even in the cool temperatures.
"Now here is the bad news. The Governor has been in contact with Washington via an emergency hookup of some kind. We still aren't sure if we were hit with an attack or if the problem was caused by some type of solar eruption or something. It looks like most of the world was affected like we were here. The military is scrambling to find out what happened, and if it was a man-made attack, they will strike back and hard.
"The President and everyone else needed to coordinate a response are being evacuated to Cheyenne Mountain. They've got power there and communications to get the country back on its feet. That's what the place is for."
Hoppie felt her head swim. She reached for Sarabeth's hand. Was the world coming apart? It didn't seem possible.
"Now let me address the food situation. It's actually good news. All the local places are closed right now, but they are fully stocked. Since many guests have left and more are continuing to leave, we expect to have plenty of food for everyone for about two weeks. The Governor has committed to having the National Guard deliver emergency rations starting the day after Christmas. So you see, we'll have plenty.
